Goldman Sachs(US:GS) Goldman Sachs·2025-10-19 15:58Investment Rating - The report maintains a "responsibly bullish" outlook for Q4, with increased confidence for November and December compared to the current month [19]. Core Insights - The market has recently undergone a significant round of tactical derisking, influenced by renewed US-China tensions and specific events within the US credit market [15][16]. - Despite the volatility, good earnings, particularly from large banks, have been rewarded, and the US macroeconomic indicators remain decent, with 217k jobless claims reported [7]. - The S&P 500 index managed to rise by 1.7% after testing the 50-day moving average, indicating resilience in the market [10]. - Retail investors have shown confidence, with a notable inflow of $28 billion into equity funds during the week [21]. Market Dynamics - The trading community significantly reduced risk last Friday, leading to the largest selling of US and global equities since April, alongside an increase in macro shorts [20]. - The market has lost some support points, and fast money has quickly reduced positions, indicating a shift in sentiment [20][22]. - The report highlights that while various market participants still hold significant positions, the market has cleaned up some risk over the past two weeks, suggesting potential for technical improvement as October progresses [22]. Geopolitical Context - The renewed tensions between the US and China regarding tariffs have caught the market off guard, leading to fluctuations in sentiment [23][25]. - Although local confidence has been dented, the expectation of a resolution suggests that the impact on stocks may not be lasting [26]. Sector Analysis - In the technology sector, companies like AVGO and ASML have reported strong earnings, with TSMC highlighting robust AI demand, indicating a positive outlook for AI-related investments [27][28]. - The report notes that AI investment as a share of US GDP remains below 1%, suggesting room for growth compared to previous technology cycles [46]. Multi-Manager Trends - The multi-manager segment has seen a resurgence, with total assets reaching an all-time high of $430 billion, indicating strong interest and growth in this area [53][54]. - Multi-strategy managers have outperformed their equity and macro-focused peers, driven by diversified return streams that help mitigate volatility [57].